I need help picking! I am going to visit in a couple weeks but I’m worried I won’t get a great sense with just a day on each campus. I am super social and active so I thought UCSB might be a good fit for that, I like to drink and go out with friends but I’m not super into Greek life. UCSD is ranked a lot higher for psychology so I feel like that is a good opportunity to take advantage of, plus it is warmer weather, but I’ve heard the social life isn’t great. Any input would be appreciated, thanks! 
If you’re super social and that’s an important component of what you’re looking for in the college experience, UCSB will probably provide that more than UCSD. Greek life is not necessary to have an active social life, so don’t worry about that.
But I think you WILL get a great sense with just a day for each campus, and you may surprise yourself. Most people know pretty quickly after visiting which feels right for them, and it’s not always the one they expected. It’s much tougher for those who don’t have the opportunity to visit and need to make a decision on just what they’ve heard/read.
So relax for now, take in the most you can on your visits, stop random students and ask them what they think (super social guy that you are ) and I’m willing to bet you come home with a clear winner.
Good luck!
I agree with @1Dreamer since your fit appears to be SB, but you really need to visit.
Also, warmer weather at the SD coastline can be tricky because of the “wall of fog” (woof!) that sometimes takes hours to burn off. SD isn’t right on the beach (it’s on a bluff) so it gets cool and a little wind.
So warmer weather would be our “Indian Summer” weather of September and early October. (Sometimes too warm!) which may be similar to Santa Barbara. We get May Gray and June Gloom.
@grayh95 I’m in the same boat as you! I’m trying to decide between UCSB and UCSD as well. I went to UCSB’s Spring Insight Day and I have to say I’m leaning heavily towards UCSB. A healthy social life is very important to me as well, and I fear that it would be lacking at SD. However, I have a friend who goes to SD and he seems to love it. I would really be interested in knowing if SD is really “Socially Dead” lol. I doubt it is, but according to all of the discussions here in the forum, they would beg to differ… UCSD had their Triton Day recently as well, but unfortunately it was on the same day as SB’s Spring Insight Day. I really wish I had the opportunity to attend both…
Secondly, I have heard that SD’s academics are more rigorous and perhaps the school as whole has more prestige. Is this true? At the same time, SB is an academically excellent school as well (so I’ve heard).
@pinkmarie as long as you’re not socially dead, UCSD won’t be socially dead. It’s a huge university: if you go out and talk to people you’ll easily make friends and find parties. They’re not going to be UCSB-style ragers, though.
While UCSB is a top academic institution and actually ranked higher than SD by some metrics, there won’t be the same academic focus that UCSD has. UCSD’s culture prides itself on the school’s academic rigor. In particular, STEM majors will find more research and/or clinical opportunities here.